Electric switch



Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL BRAMMING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIB. TO ACCESSORIES MANUFACTURING 00., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Application filed Kay 8, 1917, Serial No. 166,238. Renewed June 80, 1819. Serial No. 307,778.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL BRAMMING, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,'haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of wh ch the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to switches for electric circuits especially adapted for use in automobile service and herein shown in connection with a lamp socket such as is used in automobile tail or other lamps.

The object of the invention is to prov de, in a switch, means fonopening and closing the circuit by alternate inthrusts of a plunger; and it consists in a structure such as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a connector embodying the invention; r

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof showing the circuit closed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view,partly in elevation, showing the circuit open; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the plunger.

The device is provided with a shell or casing 10, tubular in form and open at both ends, and forming at one, end a socket for the reception of a plug connectorll, which may, as shown, he the base of an incandescent'lamp, this plug being secured within the socket by the ordinary bayonet jointconnection represented at 12. Within the casing 10 is fixed a block 13 of insulating material, through which extend a pair of stationary tubes 14, 15. From each end of each of the tubes 1 L projects a plunger contact 16, 17 18, 19, an expansion spring, as 20, being inclosed within the tube for-normally holding these plungers in extended position. When the lug 11 is inserted into the socket its termina s engage one set of the plunger contacts, as 16, 18. The other set of contacts 17, 19, is constantly in engagement with the inner face ofa plunger 1 formed of insulating material and carryin a plurality of conductors, here shown as our in number and designated b the numerals 22, 23, 24, 25.

The plunger 2 is provided with a air of radially projecting studs 26, 27, WhlCh cooperate with a zigzag channel 28 formed circumferentially in the wall of the casing 10 and here shown as being out entirely through this wall, except at certain points, asshown at 23, 30, where outwardly bowed bridge pieces are formed for holding together the two sections of the casing at opposite sides of the channel. Obviously this channel may be formed in the casing wall and the two sections of the casing held together When the channel takes the form of a slot, in any referred'manner. The edges of the channel 28 form a series of cams, as 31, 32, for guiding the studs 26, 27, to turn the plunger 21. f

The plunger 21 isheld in retracted position by the outward ressure against it of the lunger contacts 1%, 19, the studs 26, 27 being seated at the outer angles of the channel 28, as shown in Fig. 1. When the plunger 21 is forced inwardly these studs engage inner cam edges, as 32, of the channel and are thereby guided to a-pair of the inner channel apexes; pressure on the plungerbeing relieved, these -studs engage outer cam edges of the channel, as 31, and are guided to a air of the outer channel apexes. A comp ete reciprocation of the plunger, therefore, shifts its studs from one to the next adjacent pair of outer channel apexes. For the purpose of insuring this action the cam edges 31 overla the outer ends of the cam edges 32, and in like manner the inner ends of the latter cam edges overlap the inner ends of the cam edges 31. By this arrangement a direct 'inthrust or outthrust of the plunger insures the engagement of the studs with the proper cam.

The conductors 22 to 25 are so positioned that at. alternate complete reciproca'tions of the plunger 21 a pair of them engage the plunger terminals 17, 19, and are moved out of engagement therewith, thereby effecting the closlng and openi of the circuit upon alternate complete str dfies of the plunger.

. Preferably the plunger 21 takes the form of a disk, as shown, and a push button, shown as a connector lug 33, cooperates with it, being held witliin the rear end of the casing 10 by a bayonet joint connection, as shown at 34, the bayonet joint slot bein provided with an outer seat 35, with whic the stud 36 ofthe connector is normally in engagement, the slot having tension 37 longitudinal o the casing, to

permit the reciprocation, without turning,

an inward ex-,

' suitable casing of the member'33. The connectors 38,'39, extending through the plug 33 are alined with the connector contacts 17, 19, so that the conductors 22 to 25 will electrically connect them. It is obvious that if the plunger 21 were fixed to or made an integral part of the plug 33, the latter would'necessarily rotate, an if so made would still be within the scope of the invention.

While the device is shown as adapted for use in connection with a two line clrcuit, it is equally serviceable in connection with a single line circuit, the necessary modifications being obvious to the skilled mechanic. The invention, in its broaderaspects, is ap plicable to various forms of switches, though herein shown as incorporated into a connector.

The number of the contacts in the plate 21 depends upon the number of cams employed. If but half the number of cams shown be employed and they be given a pitch which will turn the plate through ninety degrees at each complete stroke of the plunger, but one pair of contacts will be required.

I I claim as my -invention- 1. In an electric switch, in combination, a having a V-shaped cam the axis of which is parallel with the axis of the casing, a rotatable spring-retracted plunger in the casing having a contact element spaced from its axis and a stud engagin the cam, and a second contact element carried by. the casing and positioned in the rotative path ofvthe'plunger contact element.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a suitable casing, a contact element within the casing and spaced from the axis thereof and being held against rotative movement with relation thereto, a rotatable plunger within the casing and having a contact'element adapted to engage the first-named contact, and cams for turning the plunger and arranged to close and open the circuit there 4. In an electric switch, in combination,

a tubular casing, a block of insulating material fixed within the casing, a pair of diametrically alined spring-advanced unger contact elements carried by the blocfi, a roi'atable plunger bearing against the plunger contacts and having conductive elementsarranged to engage such contacts as the plunger turns, and a set of circumferentially arranged cams carried by the casing and adapted to-turn the plunger.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a tubular casing. having acircumferentially arranged zigzag cam channel, a rotative plunger in d sk form engaged with the cam channel, a non-rotative push element bearing upon the plunger, a pair of conductorsextending through the disk, a pair of springadvanced plunger contacts within the casing bearing against the disk and positioned to be engaged by the conductors carried thereby. 6. n an electric switch, in combination, asuitable casing, a contactelement within the casing and spaced from the axis thereof, a rotatable plunger within the casing and having a conductor adapted to en age the contact element and being provid with a radial stud, the casing being provided with a circumferentially disposed zigzag cam slot for engaging the stud, and a spring for retracting the plunger.

CARL BRAMMING. 

